Biography

DRAMA – EARLY YEARS

Sarah Owen

With a passionate belief that drama can help children realise their full potential, Sarah started her career over 25 years ago as a drama and English teacher, teaching in secondary schools in England and Wales. She also has extensive experience facilitating drama workshops for young people and adults.
In 2005, Sarah developed the Pyjama Drama programme, delivering drama and imaginative play classes for children in nurseries, preschools, and primary schools. Since then, she has trained individuals across the UK and internationally (in Australia, California, China, India, and Malaysia) how to use her approach – individuals often with no prior experience of using drama, or without formal
teaching experience.
In 2018, Sarah began co-developing courses and resources for early years educators and primary school teachers that enable them to use her techniques and approaches in their practice with confidence and skill.

Rachel McKenna

Rachel began teaching in 2004 as a secondary school art teacher, and later an assistant Head of Year. With a passionate belief that the arts provide teachers with unrivalled tools to boost social and emotional learning, it was a natural progression some years later when she began working as a director at Pyjama Drama.
Rachel has worked closely with her sister, Sarah, to co-develop courses and resources for teachers who recognise the power of drama, but are reticent to use it in their practice either because of a lack of time, knowledge, or because they consider themselves to be naturally shy.
As a non-drama specialist herself, one of Rachel’s roles is to ensure that courses are inclusive even for those with no prior drama experience, ensuring that anyone can access, and feel confident using, Pyjama Drama techniques. Her art and design background is put to use to create training resources that are easy to follow and visually engaging.

Awards
2022 ‘Dip into Drama resource subscription’ – shortlisted Creative Play
category, Teach Early Years awards
2021 ‘An Introduction to Early Years Imaginative Play – 5* winner CPD
category, Teach Early Years awards
2021 ‘How to Become an Expert in Early Years Imaginative Play’ – shortlisted
CPD Category, Teach Early Years awards
2020: ‘The Way I Feel’- 4* winner Language and Communication category,
Teach Early Years awards
2020 ‘How to Become an Expert in Early Years Imaginative Play’ – Shortlisted in
CPD Category, Teach Early Years awards